What will we actually be doing for this class?

What will our Final Project be?

How do you figure out our final grade?

What will we actually be doing for this class?

This class has four main components: reading, thinking, talking and writing.

The Reading and the Thinking: Texts and Links

Because I think we should push the traditional "Internet studies" envelope in this class, I've deliberately assigned materials from a number of different perspectives: net anthroplogy, cultural studies analyses, popular press stories about "hot" online topics, and links to communities themselves, so you can have a look-see. I'm also providing links to a number of things I've written on subcultural communites--for example, chapters of my Ph.D. dissertation on webcam women.

One of the things I want to be clear about early on is that far from being an 'expert' on the topic of subcultures in cyberspace, I am struggling with issues of reporting, authority and privlege in the same way you will no doubt be doing as you hammer out your final project. It may sound like a cliche, but we are here together as colleagues, and we'll be teaching one another throughout this semester.

The Talking and the Writing: Class, LiveJournal and Private Meetings

In addition to our in-class discussions, we'll be talking/writing on LiveJournal (see more information on LiveJournal, below.) My hope is that our LiveJournal community becomes a group-generated research resource, where we post links to strange and interesting groups we've witnessed online--and of course, discuss them.

In addition to participation in class and on LiveJournal, I'll expect students to meet with me for one-on-one consultations at least three times this semester (I'll pass around an appointment book during our second class.) Before we meet, I'll expect you to flesh out a a brief (1-2 page, max) update on where you're at with this material and with your ideas for your final project. Of course, I encourage you to post your updates on your own LiveJournal and get your classmates' feedback as well.

My goal with all this work is to stave off the "fear of the empty page" syndrome many of us get when contemplating final projects. If you've been generating material all semester long, you'll have plenty of things to say by the end of the semester, believe me.

What's the deal with the LiveJournal ?

On our second class, I'll be providing each of you with free LiveJournal accounts, and directing you to the LiveJournal c ommunity I've established for our class. For those unfamiliar with the service, LiveJournal is an established community of webloggers who read and respond to one another's writing online. It also has a thriving volunteer development group and operates according to open source guidelines. Participation in our LiveJournal community is mandatory, and will be discussed further in class. If you want to have an early look around LiveJournal, you can head to their main informational page at http://www.livejournal.com, or you can go to my personal page at http://www.livejournal.com/users/tsenft (be aware, however, that much of my LiveJournal is "friends only", which means you won't be able to access it until you have an account of your own and I add you to my "friends" list.)

What will our Final Project be?

Your final project for this class may be EITHER:

OR

A digital art project touching on class materials, provided we agree beforehand on the terms of said project (and it is approved by your primary adviser in your department.) Be aware that even digital project submissions will require some documentation (that is, writing) to be considered acceptable for this class. Also, be aware that if you are planning to put your digital project in the ITP show, you need to be aware of the submission deadlines.

My Policy on Revisions

I have to admit that I am a pretty big fan of writing and re-writing. I'm always available to look over drafts of your work, and encourage you to submit things to me early and often, even if they feel half-formed to you.

Do you have Attendance and Class Participation Policies?

Because this is a graduate level course, I assume I don't need to have a policy on attendance. I do however, want to talk a bit about class participation. Students are expected to contribute to the progress of this class in the following ways:

• Reading materials assigned to you. No, really.
  
  
• Visiting links provided and checking out the online scenes described
  
  
• Attending class with at least two written questions/observations/connections to share with us about the material or their progress on their own work
  
  
• Posting questions/observations/connections on our LiveJournal to solicit views from your classmates
  
  
• Responding to things you classmates post on our LiveJournal (don't let comments just sit their un-engaged. It's rude.)
  
  

• Participation: 25%
• In-class presentation of your project during last weeks of the semester: 25%
• Final project: 50%